Coppell flag burnings
Coppell homeowner Sharon Winneker is outraged.
"As Americans, it's just really upsetting to think we live in a safe, family community in Coppell, and that something like this could actually happen," said Winneker.
The Coppell Rotary Club routinely puts up American flags along neighborhood streets on holidays such as Independence Day. This week, they placed the flags to remember 9/11.
Someone pulled out several of those flags, placed them in a pile in the middle of the street, and set them on fire.
"When you burn a flag, you choose to do a crime such as that, you're not just burning a piece of material, you are attacking again, just as much as we were attacked on 9/11," said Diane Empting, who lives on the street where the flags were burned.
Vandals also burned a wall mounted flag at a firefighter’s house. A charred pole and burnt remnants of the flag is all that's left.
Coppell police said since July, there have been six flag burning incidents.
Empting is taking it very personally.
"I would just like for them to think twice, just sit down and reconsider what your heart is right now," Empting said.
Coppell police met with neighborhood representatives Thursday night. They are posting information about the crimes at schools, hoping it will lead to an arrest.
The homeowners are calling the desecration sickening, especially coming so close to one of our nation's most solemn anniversaries.
E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com
